Many businesses may have taken a step back from hiring, especially when faced with uncertainty from the fiscal cliff changes, health care reform and overall budget costs.
However, Sarah Finch, business development manager at The Daniel Group, says even if you’re not hiring right now that doesn’t mean you should lose track of planning for the future.
“The current landscape of your business environment may not dictate adding to your work force, but it’s important to be proactive and plan accordingly with a staffing company if that’s the route you choose to go,” she says. “Communication is key so be very open and honest with your staffing company. They can help save you time and money by creating a plan that fits your budget and then sourcing qualified candidates to stay within that budget.”
Smart Business spoke with Finch about how to create long-term relationships so your staffing representative is always aware of your company’s hiring needs and can build a strong candidate pipeline accordingly.
Why should you always be aware of the current talent pool in your industry when planning for future needs?
It is a tough market right now for finding qualified candidates. While the demand for jobs is there, the supply of strong candidates actively seeking new jobs is low. Candidates who are actively seeking new positions move quickly, so forecasting what your future needs may be in advance and discussing that with your staffing representative gives you an advantage when it comes time to hire. Staffing companies will be aware of the current market and supply based on location and industry.
Working with a staffing firm allows communication lines to stay open between the candidate and the client. This can easily prevent losing excellent candidates because of delayed feedback or lack of candidate involvement.
How critical is it to hire quickly?
It’s imperative to acquire the talent your business needs quickly. Strong job candidates, especially for higher-level positions or with niche industry experience are always in high demand. If the candidate is interviewing elsewhere, he or she is more likely to take another offer if they do not hear a response from the hiring manager in a reasonable amount of time.
Therefore, be open and honest — ‘that position is on hold,’ ‘we’re looking to fill it in two months,’ or ‘the position was canceled or filled by someone else.’ If working with an agency, it can be as simple as letting your representative know the candidate is a top choice, but that the hiring manager isn’t available to make a decision.
What can employers do to leverage the best relationship with their staffing firm?
It goes back to keeping the candidate warm and being open with your staffing firm. Let the staffing company know every step of the hiring process so they can relay the feedback to the candidates. In all aspects, communication is most important. The staffing firm will also try to gain as much information from the candidate to relay back to the client.
Having a relationship with the staffing agency, even if not currently hiring, allows the agency to know your business and what type of people you typically target. Once each division has created its budget, meet with your staffing firm, even if just for a few minutes, to discuss your goals and evaluate your upcoming needs. The agency can work with you to help create different options to build the best candidate pool while staying within budget. Doing this in advance also allows the staffing firm plenty of time to build a strong pipeline specifically for your industry needs.
What if you are unsure of whether your budget allows for the assistance of using a staffing firm?
The staffing agency can discuss alternate options to accommodate your budget, such as hiring a contractor and allowing the agency to cover workers’ compensation, unemployment and benefits. Staffing firms deal with companies of all sizes and budgets so firms will do their best to suit your needs and cut costs simultaneously.
Sarah Finch is business development manager at The Daniel Group. Reach her at (713) 932-9313 or [email protected].
Website: Visit www.danielgroupus.com to access more information on this subject.
